The Fireside Bowl was owned and operated by Hank Sophie until 1966 when Rich Lapinski and Alec "Mac" McGuire bought the bowling alley from an ailing Hank Sophie. In 1956 it was expanded and AMF automatic pinspotters were installed and the remodeled Fireside was expanded by four lanes bringing the total to 16. It started as a twelve lane pin boy bowling alley and thrived throughout the 40s and 50s. ![]() In the summer of 1941 renovations began and the owner Hank Sophie converted it into a bowling alley, cashing-in on the bowling craze that began in mid-20th century America. The building was an ice factory in its early days. Want to read more local stories like this? Help support The Sentinel’s coverage of local news by becoming a monthly subscriber: click here for subscription options.41★5′29.94″N 87☄1′38.85″W / 41.9249833°N 87.6941250°W / 41.9249833 -87.6941250įireside Bowl (or Fireside) is a bowling alley and music venue established in the 1940s, located at 2648 W Fullerton Ave in Chicago, Illinois. Those interested in learning more about Steve Cook’s Fireside Lanes can visit or call (916) 725-2101 for more information. We’re doing our best to keep the center very family friendly,” Cook said. to midnight, and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. General hours of operation for Steve Cook’s Fireside Lanes are Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. Other times are also posted online, but the center notes that open play lanes may not be available during league play and are subject to a waiting list. to 1:30 a.m.Īccording to the bowling alley’s website, the best times for open play bowling during the day is Monday through Friday from 3-5:30 p.m. to midnight, and Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. Karaoke is a popular attraction on Wednesday and Sunday evenings from 9 p.m. ![]() The center offers all you can bowl Cosmic Bowling under the lights on Saturday evenings from 10 p.m. On Fridays, dollar games are offered from 3 to 6:30 p.m. ![]() Monday through Thursday Steve Cook’s Fireside Lanes offers dollar games from 3 to 6 p.m. His preference, he said, is to “keep flash to a minimum, and concentrate on good customer service.” Related: New burger joint gets green light from city to build in front of Fireside LanesĬook describes his Fireside Lanes as having a “classic, gimmick-free” appeal, while some bowling centers are taking a more active entertainment center style approach. Looking to the future, he said the center has had a popular youth league through the years which continues to attract younger bowlers to the sport. He’s also pleased the city is working to revitalize Auburn Boulevard through a $20 million infrastructure project that will extend from Rusch Park to the Roseville border. I’m hoping in the future to make additional improvements and refresh the outside with new paint and redo the parking lot,” Cook said. “We want to spend our money on improvements wisely. “We place a great emphasis on customer service,” he said, crediting his staff and on-site manager, Jack Thomas, for helping keep customers coming back for more. ![]() Since he took ownership, Cook said overall business income at Fireside Lanes has been stable. In the United States, the bowling industry currently generates about $6 billion in revenues annually. After retiring from competition, Cook developed his own bowling supply business with two locations, one in Sacramento and a second in Southern California, which serves the wholesale bowling industry by selling a complete line of bowling balls, bags, apparel and accessories.īowling remains the most popular participatory sport in the United States, with millions of people bowling each year. Open (one of four total titles he earned in 1986 alone).Ĭook is the brother-in-law of fellow PBA Hall of Fame bowler Mike Aulby. Among the titles were major championships at the 1981 PBA Tournament of Champions, the 1983 Touring Players Championship, and the 1986 U.S. A sports bar to watch sporting events is also a popular draw.Ĭook, 62, won his first PBA title at the age of 21 and finished with 15 titles in his career. The center features a Pro Shop and a Hall of Fame Bar & Grill offering hot meals and snacks.
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